Nintendo: We region-lock because Japanese games aren't for you

Nintendo president explains region locks are a result of cultural differences and legal requirements in global markets.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has discussed why the Japanese company continues to include region restrictions on its hardware and software products, citing differing social acceptance in global markets and legal requirements in an interview with IGN.

"From some peoples perspective, it might seem like a kind of restriction. However, we hope people can appreciate the fact that were selling our products worldwide," Iwata said. "There are many different regions around the world, and each region has its own cultural acceptance and legal restrictions, as well as different age ratings. There are always things that were required to do in each different region, which may go counter to the idea that players around the world want the freedom to play whatever they want."

Fully delusional, please understand.

Nintendo's facing another ugly war against their fans (see: Operation Rainfall and Bayonetta 2). Time to play some decent war music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxcs5wJ4DEU

The DS was region free, wasn't it? They do this because they think it protects profit margins of particular releases.foxhound_fox

Sony creates a patent for a DRM to implement into the Playstation 4
Sony fans ask them not to do it
Sony does away with it

Microsoft creates a DRM system for the XBox One
Microsoft fans ask them to remove it
Microsoft does away with it

Nintendo implements region locking and system locked DLC
Nintendo fans ask them to remove it
Nintendo says: "F*** you."

Pure BS.......Please understand.:lol:

Nintendo implements region locking and system locked DLC

Nintendo fans ask them to remove it
Nintendo says: "F*** you."

Zurrur

-Localizing (albeit, a bit late) Operation Rainfall games with XSeed after they said no

-Defended their 18+ locks in Europe until that got removed

So, I wouldn't be surprised if they backtrack here. Though there are some things they have th right to say "F*** you" to their ""fans" on.

Now it's my turn! Iwata, please understand that you are going to lose your core market if you continue trying to defend this. Obviously the are no reasons why the Gamboy, Color, Advance, and the DS Phat & Lite were region free.

They are right, japanese culture does trump our inferior way of life

They are right, japanese culture does trump our inferior way of life

Sweenix

Sony creates a patent for a DRM to implement into the Playstation 4
Sony fans ask them not to do it
Sony does away with it

Microsoft creates a DRM system for the XBox One
Microsoft fans ask them to remove it
Microsoft does away with it

Nintendo implements region locking and system locked DLC
Nintendo fans ask them to remove it
Nintendo says: "F*** you."

Zurrur

Now it's my turn! Iwata, please understand that you are going to lose your core market if you continue trying to defend this. Obviously the are no reasons why the Gamboy, Color, Advance, and the DS Phat & Lite were region free.

FireEmblem_Man

Eh, theyve dug themselves in such a hole now they almost have to localise anything thats even remotely good at this point. Just to see if anything sticks, they didnt have to before with the wii, because everyone already owned one by the time xenoblade or the last story were released, and nintendo has no idea what momentum is. I wouldnt worry just yet about region-locking being an issue.

the way i see it

• they waste time encoding it 
• they lose money when a would be customer says F you when they can easily download it on their computer... 

To be fair. I couldn't care less what Nintendo does or doesn't do anymore. I don't even look at Nintendo as in the same league as the other console makers. I look at Nintendo consoles in the same light I look at things like Leap Frog. Cute little toys for littles kids.AmazonTreeBoa

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]To be fair. I couldn't care less what Nintendo does or doesn't do anymore. I don't even look at Nintendo as in the same league as the other console makers. I look at Nintendo consoles in the same light I look at things like Leap Frog. Cute little toys for littles kids.nintendoboy16

[QUOTE="FireEmblem_Man"]

Now it's my turn! Iwata, please understand that you are going to lose your core market if you continue trying to defend this. Obviously the are no reasons why the Gamboy, Color, Advance, and the DS Phat & Lite were region free.

nintendoboy16

Well, I have imported some games overseas before, like Pokemon Heart Gold, and Soul Silver as well as Jump Ultimate Stars. There are some games that look interesting that might not even make it here or be European exclusives. I would like to have region free back on the handheld. I don't want to throw extra bones to buy another international 3DS just to play those games.

He really needs to go. 

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"][QUOTE="FireEmblem_Man"]

Now it's my turn! Iwata, please understand that you are going to lose your core market if you continue trying to defend this. Obviously the are no reasons why the Gamboy, Color, Advance, and the DS Phat & Lite were region free.

FireEmblem_Man

Well, I have imported some games overseas before, like Pokemon Heart Gold, and Soul Silver as well as Jump Ultimate Stars. There are some games that look interesting that might not even make it here or be European exclusives. I would like to have region free back on the handheld. I don't want to throw extra bones to buy another international 3DS just to play those games.

 

Microsoft creates a DRM system for the XBox One
Microsoft forced into doing it by Sony.
Microsoft does away with it

Zurrur

Fixed.

What a load of crap. I love how Japanse people think they are so superior... lol

I have played a lot of japanese only games, and they are not all that different. They think they are "too hard" or "unacceptable" in other countries? They are still as jaded with their arguements pertaining things like this as they were back in the original NES days.

[QUOTE="Zurrur"]

 

Microsoft creates a DRM system for the XBox One
Microsoft forced into doing it by Sony.
Microsoft does away with it

Crossel777

Fixed.

For my own reasons, I'd like to have a region free system as well (hell, I own EU copies of Pokemon: SoulSilver and Sonic CIassic Collection and play them on my NA DS, hell, I use Freeloader on my GameCube), so I can agree with that, however, I posted above due to the fact that most people I know in real life that have game consoles don't even think about imports, even if it's possible on the systems that allow it.

nintendoboy16

Well, that's true. Sometimes hardcore forgets that there are people that don't game as much as we do.

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]To be fair. I couldn't care less what Nintendo does or doesn't do anymore. I don't even look at Nintendo as in the same league as the other console makers. I look at Nintendo consoles in the same light I look at things like Leap Frog. Cute little toys for littles kids.nintendoboy16

Please understand, please understand, please understand.

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]To be fair. I couldn't care less what Nintendo does or doesn't do anymore. I don't even look at Nintendo as in the same league as the other console makers. I look at Nintendo consoles in the same light I look at things like Leap Frog. Cute little toys for littles kids.Jonwh18

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"]To be fair. I couldn't care less what Nintendo does or doesn't do anymore. I don't even look at Nintendo as in the same league as the other console makers. I look at Nintendo consoles in the same light I look at things like Leap Frog. Cute little toys for littles kids.AmazonTreeBoa

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"][QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]Then why post in a Nintendo thread of them doing something what a few posters (including myself) consider stupid?nintendoboy16

I always found region locking to be a bunch of bullcrap, and the last thing I would ever want to see is another operation rainfall incident, but with region locking being an issue it could very well happen.

I always found region locking to be a bunch of bullcrap, and the last thing I would ever want to see is another operation rainfall incident, but with region locking being an issue it could very well happen.

DJ-Lafleur

Deal with it

I don't think anything should ever be region locked.

He really needs to go. 

VendettaRed07

Because his successor would instantly get rid of legion lock, bring back exploration to Mario/Zelda, order EAD/Retro to create new AAA IPs, put Pokemon on iOS and of course F-Zero + Starfox for our selfish needs.

Totally.

Nintendon't: The king of making excuses.

It would be nice if the Wii U was region free, just for those that fancy importing without having to buy a Japanese machine as well (or other regions).

[QUOTE="Zurrur"]

Sony creates a patent for a DRM to implement into the Playstation 4
Sony fans ask them not to do it
Sony does away with it

Microsoft creates a DRM system for the XBox One
Microsoft fans ask them to remove it
Microsoft does away with it

Nintendo implements region locking and system locked DLC
Nintendo fans ask them to remove it
Nintendo says: "F*** you."

TheEroica

They are right, japanese culture does trump our inferior way of life

Sweenix

[QUOTE="Sweenix"]

They are right, japanese culture does trump our inferior way of life

blackace

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]The DS was region free, wasn't it? They do this because they think it protects profit margins of particular releases.FlamesOfGrey

You would think after losing money 2 years in a row they would have eaten a slice of the humble pie that was served to them, but no....they just continue operating as if no other competitors exist in the world.

Nintendo knows what we want.

Nintendo knows what we want.

Michael0134567

Nintendo knows what we want.

Michael0134567